Low intertia film drive and cassette

ABSTRACT

Storage and transport apparatus for a web such as photographic film and the like. The film, which is stored in randomly formed loops within the cassette, is withdrawn from the cassette, passed along a film gate including a projection gate by a drive wheel and pinch rollers which contact the film along its edges, and then is returned to the cassette. The design of the film channel, along with the absence of conventional film storage reels, provides a film transport system having low inertia and resulting in rapid frame access time coupled with precision frame positioning.

United States Patent 11 1 Miller LOW INTERTIA FILM DRIVE AND CASSETTE{75] Inventor: John W. Miller, Smyrna, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Los

Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Sept. 17,1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 181,295

[52] US. Cl 352/166, 352/78 R, 352/224,

[58] Field of Search ..242/55.16, 55.17; 352/221, 352/224, 225, 227,229,234, 126, 166;

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,987 10/1932 Lasowsky352/126 X 2,068,258 1/1937 Berggren 352/227 2,427,327 9/1947 Nemeth352/224 3,244,470 4/1966 Hennessey et al. 242/5519 A X 3,466,123 9/1969Skuja ..1 352/221 X 2,042,599 6/1936 Heinis 1. 242/5521 X 11 1 3,791,72614 1 Feb. 12,1974

2,995,313 8/1961 Namenyi-Katz 242 5516 3,5l7,893 6 1970 Schulz 242/55.l6

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l3l,708 8/1932 Austria 352/224 917,136 71961 Great Britain 352 221 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz AssistantExaminer-John M. Jillions Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Billy G. Corber;Albert L. Carter [57] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBFEB 12 i974 FIG; 2

SHEEI 2 OF 5 JOHN W. MILLER INVENTOR.

Agent Pmmsum 121924 OHN W. MILLER INVENTOR.

BY I.

Agent PATENIEB FEB 1 21924 FIG.9-

JOHN .W. MILLER INVENTOR.

1 LOW INTERTIA FILM DRIVE AND CASSETTE operator-readable form. The useof manual data stor- Where the retrieved data will be displayed intextual form for reading by an operator, the data may be stored eitherphotographically on microfilm or the like, or the data may be convertedto another form and recorded on a different medium, such as magnetictape, discs, or the like. Magnetically recorded data typically isretrieved through a CRT readout device operating in conjunction with acomputer to select the desired recorded information and convert thisinformation into a readable CRT display. The hardware required toaccomplish this form of data acquisition can become expensive,especially where a great number of separate CRT readout terminals mustbe correlated with a large central file of magnetically recorded data.Moreover, limitations of the resolution of the CRT display prevents anentire textual page of small-print data, such as a telephone directorypage, from being presented in a single CRT frame."

While data retrieval systems using microfilm storage can generallyreproduce an entire textual page for viewing, the average frame accesstime of prior art microfilm readout apparatus generally has beenunsatisfactory in applications where a large number of repetitiverequests for information must be answered. Prior art microfilm readoutapparatus employs a reel-to-reel microfilm arrangement whereby a commandto access a particular film frame requires the rotational inertia of twofilm reels, along with the film contained thereon, to be rapidlyovercome to move the film at a high velocity until the desired frame isapproached. The rapidly spinning film reels must then be braked tosubstantially dissipate their momentum before the desired .frameactually arrives at the film gate, or else this frame will overshoot thegate and the film transport mechanism will have to reverse itself one ormore times until the desired frame is accurately positioned in the gate.This requirement to overcome inertia and then to dissipate momentum notonly wastes time, but also requires a complex arrangement of drivemotors, clutches and- /or brakes, and control circuitry to insure thatboth film reels are accurately controlled to prevent either spillage orbreakage of the film resulting from improper braking or acceleration ofthe reels.

Microfilm readout devices having a film cassette have also been proposedfor the ease of replacing the film. These devices, however, typicallyretain the reelto-reel arrangement and do not eliminate the problems ofreel inertia and the reel drive shafts and associated mechanisms. Whilesingle reel film cassettes are known which contain a continuous strip offilm on a single reel, such cassettes are incapable of bi-directionalfilm movement and are thus particularly ineffective for data storage andaccess applications wherein the film must be moved in either directionto permit the shortest access time for a particular frame of film.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedfilm drive apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to pro- .vide film driveapparatus capable of bi-directional highspeed film access movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide film driveapparatus for providing high speed, low inertia film movement with asimplicityof mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide film driveapparatus including a no-reel film stor age cassette.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a filmdrive apparatus including a film storage cassette from which the filmcan be readily removed or replaced without removing. the cassette fromthe apparatus.

Other objects and many of theattendant advantages of the presentinvention will be readily apparent from consideration of the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated inthe annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an overall plan view of an of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows in plan view the film gate assembly of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 and showingdetails of the idler wheel assembly;

FIG. 4 shows a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showingengagement of the idler wheels and the drive wheels with film passingthrough the film gate assembly;

FIG. 5 shows a section view taken along line 5-5 of embodiment FIG. 3and showing details of the film gate assembly;

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of the aft film gate of the present embodimentemphasizing the mechanism for moving the film pressure plate;

FIG. 7 shows an elevation view of the back portion of the aft film gateand pressure plate actuating assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of the aft film gate; and

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the forward film gate.

Stated generally,the present invention comprehends film drive apparatuswherein the film is stored in randomly positioned loops contained withina cassette and is withdrawn from one portion of the cassette, passedthrough a film gate including an optical portion and then is insertedinto another portion of the cassette. The actual film transport isaccomplished with a pair of drive wheels which engage the edges of thefilm against a pair of idler wheels. The film gate provides support andguidance for the film so that the drive wheel can either push or pullthe film through the gate to accomplish high-speed film movement ineither direction to facilitate rapid random access of a particular filmframe.

' More specifically and with reference taken to the drawings, there isshown generally at 10 an embodiment-of the present invention including aframe 11 containing optical projection apparatus including a projectionlamp l2 and a first mirror 13 for directing light from the lamp 12 ontoa condensing lens 14. Light passes from the lens 14 through a projectiongate 15, to be explained in greater detail below, and a projection lens16 which directs the light toward a second mirror 17. The imagescontained on a film frame positioned at the projection gate thus areprojected to the mirror 17, which is part of a conventional foldedoptical system and which reflects the images to a second mirror (notshown) and thence onto a projection screen (not shown). The particulararrangement of the projection lamp 12 and the mirror 13 are not criticalto the present invention, since the skilled practitioner could positionthese elements in different locations to accomplish the end result ofillumination passing through the projection gate 15.

A film cassette 21 is removably supported on the frame 11 to contain thefilm 22 which passes through the projection gate. The cassette 21includes a member I 23 forming the bottom of the cassette and having oneor more'openings 24 and 25 for engaging locating members whichaccurately position the cassette within the film drive apparatus. Thecassette 21, which is formed generally in the shape of a U having aninterrupted area shown at 26 to accommodate the projection and filmdrive mechanisms, includes'a raised side portion 27 extending around theperiphery of the casset te. The height of the'side portion 27 issomewhat greater than the film which is stored on edge within thecassette to form loops 2 8 which must be free to slide within thecassette on the edges of the film. A top member 29, shown partiallybroken away, is removably secured to the side portion 27 to prevent dustor other foreign matter from entering the cassette. The top portion 29has portions removed to the left and to the right of the open area 26 toform the recesses 30 and 31, re spectively, which permit access to thefilm entering either end of the film gate; the side portion 27 hasopenings coinciding with the recesses 30 and 31 through which the film22 enters and leaves the cassette during film traverse. I

A slot 35 is formed in that part of the side portion 27 which isexposedby the recess 3l, and the sides of this slot are rounded orotherwise made smooth to permit scratch-free passage of the filmtherethrough. Movement of the film within the cassette may beadditionally protected by covering the rounded sides of the slot 35, aswell as the side portion regions 36 and 37 which are adjacent theentries of the film gate, with a suitable soft or non-scratchingmaterial 41 such as flocking, velvet or the like which protects the filmsurface from contacting a rough or scratchy surface of the cassette andadditionally brushes foreign matter from the film. One or more openings42 are provided in the bottom of the cassette to permit dirt and otherforeign matter to drop through the bottom of the cassette. The openingsmay be formed in downwardly depressed dimples to avoid contact with thefilm, v

Mounted on the frame 11 adjacent the cassette slot 35 is a film reelspindle 38 onto which a film reel 39 can be removably positioned. Thespindle 38 is mechanically interconnected with a crank 40 by means ofany suitable linkage such as a gear train or the like, so that thespindle and a film reel 39 positioned thereon can be rotated by thecrank 40 to rewind the film from the cassette 21 onto the reel 39.

The film 22 contained in the cassette 21 passes through a film gateassembly indicated generally at 50 and containing the projection gate15. The film gate assembly 50 as particularly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4includes a forward film gate 51 and an aft film gate 52. The aft filmgate 52 in the depicted embodiment is secured to a mounting plate 53,which is in turn attached to the frame 11 of the apparatus. Since theforward and aft film gates should be movable, one with respect to theother, for maintenance and other purposes, the forward film gate 51 hasa bevelled lower edge 54 with a pair of abutment members 55, 56extending downwardly to engage corresponding recesses, one of which isshown at 49 in FIG. 4. The outer surface of the forward film gate 51 ispivotally connected at 57 and 58 to the yoke ends of corresponding rods59 and 60 which are biased by compression springs 61 and 62 to press theforward film gate into engagement with the aft film gate 52. The ends ofthe rods59 and 60 extend through holes in the upright plate 65, andcorresponding camming levers 63 and 64 are associated with each of therods so that the rods can be withdrawn against the force of thecompression springs to open the film gate mechanism by a rotatingmovement along the lower edge 54 which moves the forward film gate 51away from the aft film gate 52. The forward edge of each of the recessesis undercut as at 49 to accommodate the abutment members 55, 56 when theforward film gate is opened. j

The aft film gate 52, as particularly shown in FIG. 8, includes a pairof elongate rib members and 71 which extend along substantially theentire length of the aft film gate and which define a channel forguiding the passage of film through the gate. The rib members 70 and 71,which are interrupted by apertures 72 and 73, respectively, haveparallel inwardly facing surfaces 74 and 75 which define the filmchannel 76 as having a width somewhat greaterthan the film which passes'through the film channel. A relief channel 77 running the entire lengthof the aft film gate 52 is formed in the film channel 76. Since therelief channel 77 reduces or eliminates contact between the film channelwalls and the film; passing through the film channel, the width of therelief channel preferably should be at least as great as the width ofthe photographic information-bearing portion of the film. A reliefchannel depth of one thirtysecond of an inch has been found to besatisfactory with a film channel dimensioned to receive 35 mm film. Itwill be understood, of course, that other film widths,

such as 16mm or 105 mm, can be used as well with an appropriatelydimensionedfilm gate assembly and cassette according to the presentinvention.

The projection gate 15 is formed in the aft film gate 52 by a projectionaperture 80 which extends through the aftfilm gate. As shown in FIG. 8,the width of the aperture 80 is greater than the width of the reliefchannel 77. A pressure plate 81 in a frame 82 of somewhat smalleroverall dimensions than the aperture 80 ex or less coplanar with thesurface of the relief channel frame 82 which is connected to a rotatableshaft 83 by means of spring rods 84 and 85 pivotally attached to theframe 82. The rod 83 is rotated through limited motion by a solenoid 86and an arm 87. When the solenoid 86 is disengaged, the arm 87 and thepressure plate 81 assume the position shown by solid lines in FIG. 6 sothat the resilient action of the rods 84 and 85 along with the pivotalmovement permitted between the spring rods and the frame 82, firmlypresses the pressure plate with a two-way leveling action against thefilm contained in the projection gate. Actuation of the solenoid 86,however, causes the arm 87 and the pressure'plate 81 to assume thepositions shown by broken lines in FIG. 6 so that the pressure plate iswithdrawn from film contact. Suitable stop members 88 and 89 areprovided to limit the backward travel of the pressure plate 81.

The forward film gate 51, shown in detail in FIG. 9, contains twoparallel slots 95 and 96 extending the length of the forward film gate.The spacing between the slots 95 and 96 is chosen to permit the ribmembers 70 and 71 on the aft film gate 52 to fit within the re--spective slots when the forward film gate is moved to engage the aftfilm gate as described above, this arrangement being depicted in FIG. 5.The width of the filmrchannel 76 thus is defined as aforesaid by thespacing between the rib members 70 and 71. A relief channel 97 is formedin the forward film gate 51 to be substantially coextensive with therelief channel 77 of the aft film gate 52 when the two film gates arepositioned together. A projectionaperture 98 of somewhat greater widththan the relief channel 97 extends through the forward film gate 51 tocomprise a portion of the projection gate 15. A projection gate glassassembly 99 is retained within the aperture 98, and the projectionaperture and the gate glass are positioned on the forward film gate 51so that the two projection apertures 80 and 98 are coextensive with eachother and so that the pressure plate 81 can press film in the projectiongate against the gate glass 99 when the forwardand aft film gates arepositioned together. The approaches along the relief channel 97 to thegate glass 99 can be designed to form ramps leading to the edges of thegate glass, so that film which has bowed outwardly of its normal travelpath will be protected from being scratched.

Two apertures 105 and 106 extend through the forward film gate 51.Journalled for rotation on a shaft 107 contained on the outer side 108of the forward film gate are a first idler wheel 109 and a second idlerwheel 110, which are dimensioned to extend through the respectiveapertures 105 and 106 so that the periphery of each idler wheel is inthe film channel 76. The shaft 107 is contained 'within a housing 111which is journalled for rotation on a second shaft 112 projecting fromsupport 113. The support 113 is pivotally attached to the tabs 114, 115projecting upwardly from the outer side 108 of the forward film gate. -Acompression spring 116 biases the support member 1 13 to keep the idlerwheels 109 and 110 pressed inwardly of the apertures 105 and 106. Whenthe forward and aft film gates are together as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,the film 22 in the film channel 76 is pinched against a first film edgebetween the idler wheel 109 and a first drive wheel 120 and is pinchedagainst the other film edge between the idler wheel 110 and a seconddrive wheel 121..Ihe drive wheels 120 and 121, each of which may haveholes 125 symmetrically contained therein to reduce the rotationalinertia of the wheels, are connected to a hub 122 which is mounted onshaft 123 for rotation by the bidirectional drive motor 124. The pivotalmounting of the housing 111 insures that each of the idler wheels willbear with equal'force on the film pinched against the respective drivewheels.

In describing the operation of the disclosed embodiment, assume that areel 39 of film to be loaded into the empty cassette 21 has beenpositioned on the spindle 38. The forward gate 51 is withdrawn from theaft gate 52 by means of the camming levers 63 and 64 and the leader endof the film on the reel 39 is manually inserted through the slot 35 andis placed along the film channel 76.'The forward gate is then closed tocontact 7 the aft gate so that the film is sandwiched in the filmchannel as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The relief channels 77 and 97eliminate or minimize contact of the film with the walls of the filmchannel, thereby eliminating mation, between the idler'wheels 109, 110,and the drive wheels 120, 121. Both the idler wheels and the drivewheels can be made of steel or other suitable hard material, althoughquieter operation of the drive mechanism results from the use of idlerwheels having at least a periphery of a suitable resilient material suchas silicone rubber or the like.

Alternatively, an end of the film can be inserted into an end of thefilm gate for engagement between the idler wheels and the drive wheels.

When the drive motor 124 is actuated by suitable circuitry forming nopart of the present invention, the film is moved through the film gateto exit at the left side thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and to slideon its edges into the film cassette 21. This film movement continues asthe film unwinds from the reel 39 and the film exiting the gate formsthe loops 38 by the natural tendencyof photographic film standing onedge in a confined area to fold into loops-When all of the film has beenunreeled from the reel 39, the drive motor 134 is stopped eithermechanically or by means of appropriate control signals encoded on thefilm. A trailer of unused film may remain connected to the reel 39 atall times. When the drive motor 124 is reversed to drive the film toexit the right side of the film gate as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, film willbe withdrawn from the loops in the left side of the film cassette topass through the gate and form loops of film in the right side of thecassette. The ends of the aft film gate 52 are curved as shown at 130and 131 to guide the entry of the film into the gate during high speedtransport of the film. A loop 22a is provided in the free end of thefilm to prevent this end from inadvertently enteringthe film gate duringnormal operation of the apparatus. Alternatively to leaving the filmtrailer on the reel 39, the film may be completely contained within thecassette either as a continuous loop or as having both ends looped. Inany event, movement of the film through the gate causes the loops 28 tomigrate through the cassette so that substantially the entire cassettevolume is used to store the film 22.

The film transport functions of film acceleration, high-speed transport,braking, and low-speed transport for accurate positioning of the filmare all accom- 7 plished by appropriate actuation of the drive motor124, which may be a direct-current torque motor.

Since the film is stored loosely in the loops 28, rapid acceleration ofthe film in the gate from standstill is not hampered by the inertia offilm stored on a reel, and deceleration of the film moving through thegate is similarly not hampered by the need to brake rapidlyspinning filmreels. The only inertia associated with the present film tranport systemis that of the drive wheels, the idler wheels and, of course, thearmature or rotor of the drive motor itself. The idler wheels aremaintained against the film 22 by means of the spring 116 and the swivelconnection of the housing. 111 on the shaft 112, so that any variationin film thickness such as a film splice, or minor eccentricity of thedrive wheels 120 or 121 does not adversely affect the pinching contactbetween the drive wheels and the respective idler wheels. Since both thedrive motor and the solenoid 86 are inoperative when the film has beenpositioned for viewing a particular frame, imagebothering botheringvibration is avoided.

Removal of the film from the cassette is accomplished by opening thefilm gate assembly to free the film from being pinched between the idlerwheels 109, 110 and the drive wheels 120, 121, and by then operating thecrank 40 to rewind the film from the cassette onto the reel 39. It willbe understood, of course, that the film 22 could be preloaded in thecassette to be completely contained therein, except for the length of Ifilm which extends across the open end of the U-shaped open area 26, andthat changing the film could be accomplished by removing the entirecassette and substituting another preloaded cassette since the openedfilm gate assembly permits the film therein to be vertically withdrawnfrom the gate.

Although such terms as forward film gate and aft film gate are used todescribe the disclosed embodiment of the present invention because ofthe relative positions of such components within the embodiment, nolimitation is intended from the use of such terms.

The surfaces along which the film is moved, including the surfaces ofthe film channel 76, preferably should be smooth and hard, soas toreduce scratching of the film and also so as .to minimize the chancethat the surface itself will become scratched by a foreign particlewhich becomes lodged-therein. Chrome plating the appropriate surfaceshas been found to yield satisfactory results.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only to apreferred embodiment of the invention and that numerous modifications oralterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for transporting and positioning a photographic film,comprising in combination:

film gate means including a pair of film gate members and defining afilm channel along which a length of film may be traversed,

the first film gate member having a first facing surface bounded alongthe sides thereof by a pair of spaced apart film edge abutment meansextending outwardly of said first surface and defining the film width ofsaid film channel,

the second film gate member having a second facing surface bounded alongthe sides thereof by a pair of recess means each of which is configuredto receive a corresponding one of said abutment means; said film channelbeing further defined by said first and second facing surfaces extendingbetween said pairs of abutment means and recess means;

said first and second facing surfaces being spaced greater than thespacing between said surfaces at said proximate locations to provide arelief channel which at least minimizes sliding contact between saidfacing surfaces along said relief channel and film disposedtherebetween; and film gate assembly means supporting said first'andsecond film gate members in relatively movable relationship with eachother, said film gate assembly means being selectively operative to movesaid gate members to a closed position wherein said gate members engageeach other to dispose each of said abutment means into saidcorresponding recess means to define said film channel, and to move saidgate means to an open position wherein said gate members are disengagedfrom each other to open said film channel.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one aperture extending through said first film gate tointerrupt said first facing surface;

at least oneaperture extending through said second film gate tointerrupt said second facing surface;

said apertures being positioned on said respective film gates to causethe apertures to be in juxtaposition with each other when said filmgates are in the closed position; i i

drive wheel means mounted to extend peripherally through one ofsaidapertures to be present in said film channel to contact the surfaceof a'film positioned therein;

motive means connected to selectively cause said drive wheel means torotate in either direction; and

idler wheel means mounted to extend peripherally through the other ofsaid apertures to be present in said film channel so that a filmpositioned therein is pinchedbetween said drive wheel means and saididler wheel means.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:

said first film gate has a pair of said apertures extending therethroughand disposed symmetrically of the path of film traverse so that each ofsaid pair of apertures interrupts said first smooth surface at a resaididler wheel meansincludes a pair of idler wheels mounted to extendindividually through each of said pair of apertures in said second filmgate.

, 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein:

said idler wheels are resiliently biased to extend inwardly of said pairof apertures in said second film gate.

5. Apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:

a first projection aperture extending through said first film gate tointerrupt said first facing surface:

a second projection aperture extending through said second film gate tointerrupt said second facing surface;

said first and second projection apertures being positioned on saidrespective film gates to be in juxtaposition with each other when saidfilm gates are in the closed position;

a first transparent member disposed to occupy said first projectionaperture;

a second transparent member disposed to occupy said second projectionaperture;

one of said transparent members being fixedly positioned in therespective projection aperture to present to said film channel a firstgate surface which is substantially a continuation of the film gatesurface;

the other of said transparent members being movably positioned in theother projection aperture to assume a first position wherein said othertransparent member presents to said film channel a second gate surfacewhich is substantially a continuation of the film gate surface, so thata portion of the film in the film channel is pressed between said firstand second gate surfaces, and to assume a second position wherein saidother transparent member is with- I drawn from the other projectionaperture at least sufficiently to release the film between said firstand second gate surfaces; and

means operatively connected to said other transparent member toselectively move that member to either of said first and secondpositions.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein:

said means operatively connected to said other transparent membercomprises a pair of spring members respectively operatively connectedbetween opposite sides of said other transparent member and an actuatingmember;

each of said spring members being operatively connected to therespective side of said other transparent member so as to permitrelative movement therebetween; and

means operatively connected to said actuating memaforesaid.

7. Apparatus for storing and positioning a web, com

prising:

storage cassette means having a top member and a bottom member generallyparallel with each other and spaced apart from each other a distanceslightly greater than the width of the web to define a region forreceiving a length-of web standing on edge and disposed in-randomformation within said region;

said cassette means having an interrupted region along which a portionof the web stored in the cassette means can extend to pass from a firstopening in the cassette means across the interrupted region and reenterthe cassette means at a second opening therein for random formationretention therein;

web gate means positioned to receive and guide the movement of the webportion passing in either direction across the interrupted region;

said webgate means including guide means defining a web channel having afirst portion having a depth adjacent each edge of the web to closelyconfine and guide the web' in sliding movementtherealong and a secondportion having a depth greater than the depth of said firstportion to atleast minimize sliding contact between the web and said second portion;and

web drive means positioned to contact said web portion for selectivelymoving the web in a first direction through said web gate means to bewithdrawn from said first opening to re-enter said second opening, andin a second direction through said web gate means to be withdrawn fromsaid second opening and to re-enter said first opening;

said web drive means comprising at least one drive wheel meanspositioned to contact one side of the web portion in said web channel;

at least one idler wheel means positioned to contact the other side ofthe web portion so that the web is pinched between the drive wheel meansand the idler wheel means;

said web drive means further comprising motive means connected toselectively cause said drive wheel means to rotate in a first directionto move the web in the first direction through said web chennel and in asecond'direetion to move the web in the second direction through the webchannel.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein: I

said drive wheel means comprises a pair of drive wheels positioned tomake respective contact with each edge of the web; and

said idler wheel means comprises a pair of idler with the other side ofthe web.

1. Apparatus for transporting and positioning a photographic film,comprising in combination: film gate means including a pair of film gatemembers and defining a film channel along which a length of film may betraversed, the first film gate member having a first facing surfacebounded along the sides thereof by a pair of spaced apart film edgeabutment means extending outwardly of said first surface and definingthe film width of said film channel, the second film gate member havinga second facing surface bounded along the sides thereof by a pair ofrecess means each of which is configured to receive a corresponding oneof said abutment means; said film channel being further defined by saidfirst and second facing surfaces extending between said pairs ofabutment means and recess means; said first and second facing surfacesbeing spaced apart along the film channel at locations proximate each ofsaid abutment and recess means by an extent which freely permits slidingtraverse of the film therealong while defining the path of film traverseby sliding contact between said facing surface locations and the filmareas disposed facing said locations; said first and second facingsurfaces further being spaced apart along the film channel andintermediate said proximate locations by an extent which is greater thanthe spacing between said surfaces at said proximate locations to providea relief channel which at least minimizes sliding contact between saidfacing surfaces along said relief channel and film disposedtherebetween; and film gate assembly means supporting said first andsecond film gate members in relatively movable relationship with eachother, said film gate assembly means being selectively operative to movesaid gate members to a closed position wherein said gate members engageeach other to dispose each of said abutment means into saidcorresponding recess means to define said film channel, and to move saidgate means to an open position wherein said gate members are disengagedfrom each other to open said film channel.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1,further comprising: at least one aperture extending through said firstfilm gate to interrupt said first facing surface; at least one apertureextending through said second film gate to interrupt said second facingsurface; said apertures being positioned on said respective film gatesto cause the apertures to be in juxtaposition with each other when saidfilm gates are in the closed position; drive wheel means mounted toextend peripherally through one of said apertures to be present in saidfilm channel to contact the surface of a film positioned therein; motivemeans connected to selectively cause said drive wheel means to rotate ineither direction; and idler wheel means mounted to extend peripherallythrough the other of said apertures to be present in said film channelso that a film positioned therein is pinched betWeen said drive wheelmeans and said idler wheel means.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein:said first film gate has a pair of said apertures extending therethroughand disposed symmetrically of the path of film traverse so that each ofsaid pair of apertures interrupts said first smooth surface at arespective one of said locations proximate said abutment means; saiddrive wheel means includes a first drive wheel extending peripherallythrough one of said pair of apertures and a second drive wheel extendingperipherally through the other of said pair of apertures, both of saiddrive wheels connected to said motive means; said second film gate has apair of said apertures extending therethrough and positioned to bedisposed in juxtaposition with said pair of apertures on said first filmgate when said film gates are in the closed position; and said idlerwheel means includes a pair of idler wheels mounted to extendindividually through each of said pair of apertures in said second filmgate.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3, wherein: said idler wheels areresiliently biased to extend inwardly of said pair of apertures in saidsecond film gate.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising: afirst projection aperture extending through said first film gate tointerrupt said first facing surface: a second projection apertureextending through said second film gate to interrupt said second facingsurface; said first and second projection apertures being positioned onsaid respective film gates to be in juxtaposition with each other whensaid film gates are in the closed position; a first transparent memberdisposed to occupy said first projection aperture; a second transparentmember disposed to occupy said second projection aperture; one of saidtransparent members being fixedly positioned in the respectiveprojection aperture to present to said film channel a first gate surfacewhich is substantially a continuation of the film gate surface; theother of said transparent members being movably positioned in the otherprojection aperture to assume a first position wherein said othertransparent member presents to said film channel a second gate surfacewhich is substantially a continuation of the film gate surface, so thata portion of the film in the film channel is pressed between said firstand second gate surfaces, and to assume a second position wherein saidother transparent member is withdrawn from the other projection apertureat least sufficiently to release the film between said first and secondgate surfaces; and means operatively connected to said other transparentmember to selectively move that member to either of said first andsecond positions.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein: said meansoperatively connected to said other transparent member comprises a pairof spring members respectively operatively connected between oppositesides of said other transparent member and an actuating member; each ofsaid spring members being operatively connected to the respective sideof said other transparent member so as to permit relative movementtherebetween; and means operatively connected to said actuating memberto move the actuating member to a first position, whereat said springmembers move said other transparent member into conforming pressingcontact with said film portion, and to a second position whereat saidother transparent member is withdrawn from said other projectionaperture as aforesaid.
 7. Apparatus for storing and positioning a web,comprising: storage cassette means having a top member and a bottommember generally parallel with each other and spaced apart from eachother a distance slightly greater than the width of the web to define aregion for receiving a length of web standing on edge and disposed inrandom formation within said region; said cassette means having aninterrupted region along which a portion of the web stored in thecaSsette means can extend to pass from a first opening in the cassettemeans across the interrupted region and re-enter the cassette means at asecond opening therein for random formation retention therein; web gatemeans positioned to receive and guide the movement of the web portionpassing in either direction across the interrupted region; said web gatemeans including guide means defining a web channel having a firstportion having a depth adjacent each edge of the web to closely confineand guide the web in sliding movement therealong and a second portionhaving a depth greater than the depth of said first portion to at leastminimize sliding contact between the web and said second portion; andweb drive means positioned to contact said web portion for selectivelymoving the web in a first direction through said web gate means to bewithdrawn from said first opening to re-enter said second opening, andin a second direction through said web gate means to be withdrawn fromsaid second opening and to re-enter said first opening; said web drivemeans comprising at least one drive wheel means positioned to contactone side of the web portion in said web channel; at least one idlerwheel means positioned to contact the other side of the web portion sothat the web is pinched between the drive wheel means and the idlerwheel means; said web drive means further comprising motive meansconnected to selectively cause said drive wheel means to rotate in afirst direction to move the web in the first direction through said webchennel and in a second direction to move the web in the seconddirection through the web channel.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein:said drive wheel means comprises a pair of drive wheels positioned tomake respective contact with each edge of the web; and said idler wheelmeans comprises a pair of idler wheels positioned to contact the otherside of the web respectively opposite each of said drive wheels; andsaid drive wheels are connected to be selectively rotated by said motivemeans.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein: said idler wheels areresiliently biased into contact with the other side of the web.